Process of making asphalt



May 23, 1935- EAB. MccoNNELL l 2,002,670

.PaocEss oF MAKING ASPHALT original Filed July s; 19:51

@y M s/Qay/ r ATTORNEYJ,

Patented May 28, 1935 AluliuurED STATES PROCESS OF MAKING ASPHALTElliott B. McConnell, Cleveland, ohio. assigno'r to The Standard OilCompany, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Y Original applicationJuly 3, 1931, Serial No. 548,601. Divided and this application June 30,1934, Serial No. 733,252

. 2 Claims.

A fundamental difficulty in the manufacture of asphalt has centeredabout the limitation ofV oxidizing action. In the customary procedure inwhich petroleum has been distilled, with removal of progressivelyheavier cutsdown Ito lubricating fractions, and the bottoms or residuumhas then been subjected to the action of air as bubbled through -aperforated pipe along the bottom of the still, the amount of exposureand contact action has been so limited as to necessitate very prolongedtreatment, two or three days for a batch; and besides the draw-back ofsuch a large time factor there is the further difficulty that suchprolonged subjection of hydrocarbons to the high temperatures necessary,effects detrimental decomposition tending to erratic and deficientresults. In accordance with the present invention however, it nowbecomes possible to subject asphalt-forming residuum to a thorough-goingoxidation treatment with relatively small time requirement, and besidesa continuous type procedure, as opposed to batchwise, is available.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention,then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described, and partic-'ularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and theannexed drawing setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodimentsof the'invention, these being indicative however,

of but a few of the various Ways in which the principle of the inventionmay be employed.

In said annexed drawing:-

The sole gure is a semi-diagrammatic sectional elevation showingapparatus contemplated.

A petroleum residuum, as obtained for instance by distilling petroleumand removing the naphtha and progressively heavier cuts on through thelubrication fractions, for example the residuum or bottoms from thedistillation of Mid-Continent petroleum as reduced to about 7-8 per centis, in molten or adequately uidified form, projected in finely dividedspray or atomized condition counter-currently to a supply of air. Forsuch ne division, finely perforated or porous plates or air-atomizerheads may be employed, especially heads in which the subdivision ofliquid is effected by the pressure applied and the emergence throughpassages affording a fine breaking up of the liquid body with formationof very small droplets or mist particles as projected into the air.

is supplied by pipe 4 from a source of residuum,

In the form of equipment illus-v for instance a pump 5 serving toprovide a requisite distribution pressure. The spray-head 2 is a finelyperforated diaphragm. On account of the difficulty` in .attaining adesirably `ne Y perforation by direct mechanical punching, it ispreferable to provide such perforated diaphragm in the form of a porousplate or plates making up a header of suiicient extent, and such platesmay be of any suitably porous material, as for example aluminum oxide,porcelain or other ceramic material in which pores may be convenientlyformed by proportioning the granular raw material from which the platesare initially molded. Various degrees of `size of pore openings may behad `in materials of this order. Desirably, a heating means, as forinstance a steam coil 20, is provided adjacent the diaphragm 2, forfacilitating melting out of residuum which may become solidied or frozenon occasion of temporary shut-down. At the bottom of vthe chamber 3 anair inlet is provided and this may conveniently .take the form of aperforated pipe 6 connected with a Iblower or compressor '1, for supplyof a body of air in the chamber. At the top anoff-take pipe 8 may leadthrough a condenser Siv to a receiver I0, and'if desired an eduction airpump to blower at the end of the vent pipe II.

As above indicated, the residuum, for instance as Vcoming from the finaldistillation zone, through pipel I2, and at a temperature of around 700F., orrlower, to about 400 F., is fed by the pump` 5 to the atomizerhead 2, Where it is projected in finely divided atomized form, against arising current of air introduced by pipe 6. VAs the finely dividedresiduum or mist-` like particles leave the atomizer head, they are atonce enveloped in an abundance of air, and with the elevatedtemperatures provided and the exaggerated surface exposure, oxidationproceeds effectively. The product collecting at the bottom of the towermay be drawn off through the pipe I3 to tanks, shipping drums, orwhatever disposal is desired. In some cases, further treatment may bepreferred by recycling the material through the pipe I4, the valves I5and I6 being closed and the valves VI'I and I8 being open. The pump 5then recycles the material until a sample taken off at the samplingoutlet I9, shows the desired specificationl characteristics. Theeflluent air proceeds through off-take pipe 8 and the condenser 9 to thedischarge pipe II, any condensable substances being collected in thereceiver I0. Temperature control may be maintained as desired by thetemperature of the incoming residuum and the air. The air may be cooledin some cases as required, or it may be specially heated, or it maycarry the heat acquired in the compressor.

Where it is desired to especially heat the air from the compressor, aheater 2l may be applied to the air pipe lprior to its entrance into thetower, the heat being applied by any suitable means, such as furnace ora flue-gas connection.

This application is a division of my prior application Serial No.548,601, led July 3, 1931,

Other modes of applying the principle ofthe invention may be employed,change being made as regards the details described, provided the'features stated in any of the following claims,

or the equivalent of such, be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as myinvention:-

1. A process of making oxidized asphalt, which comprises forcingpetroleum residuum through capillary diaphragm openings, projecting thenely divided residuum therefrom in countercurrent flow, to air, andwithdrawing the oxidized asphaltic product.

2. A process of making oxidized asphalt, which comprises forcingpetroleum residuum through capillary ceramic openings, projecting thenely divided residuum therefrom in counter-current ow to air, andwithdrawing the oxidized asphaltic product.

ELLIOTT B. MCCONNELL.

